380 People Killed By Mines in Mardakert Region

YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Currently–there are 5,290 hectares. of arable lands in the Mardakert region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic that still remain mined. An official of the regional administration of the Mardakert region told Noyan Tapan that even in peacetime 380 people were blown up by mines–196 of whom were men–159 women and 25 children. The former head of the regional administration and his driver were blown up by a mine on April 7–1998.

According to Barseghian–85-90 thousand drams are needed to demine one hectare of land–while the government has no funds. He also pointed out that it is still uncertain today what approach should be displayed to mined territories during their privatization.

629 residents of the Mardakert region were killed in the Karabakh war–261 people were taken hostages–132 of whom were later released. 68 of the 129 people now held hostages are men–60 are women and there is one child.

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